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Tambour Embroidery

Detail of a peasant's cap, France, with tambour work on  muslin and (below) on net. Early 19th  century. Detail of a peasant's cap, France, with tambour work on muslin and (below) on net. Early 19th century. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London, acc. no. T.42.1909.

Tambour embroidery or tambour work is a technique whereby a chain stitch is worked with a fine hook (a tambour hook) on a fine, slightly open-weave cloth that is stretched over a frame. This type of work may have originated in India, where it is known as ari work or ari embroidery. For tensioning, sometimes a circular frame is used.

Also known as: Beauvais stitch; broderie en chainette; double Kensington stitch; tambour; hooked needle embroidery.

See also the TRC Needles entries on brodeur (tambour embroidery)Luneville embroidery; Ladies Waldegrave and Louis Ruffini.

Sources:

  • CLABBURN, Pamela (1976). The Needleworkers’ Dictionary, New York: Pamela William Morrow & Co.
  • EARNSHAW, Pat (1986). The Identification of Lace, Aylesbury: Shire Publishing House.

GVE

Last modified on Wednesday, 14 June 2017 17:42